6 August 2013- Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General (DG) Lilia de Lima visited Singapore from July 22 to 25 to deliver presentations at two seminars on doing business in the Philippines, and meet with various companies and institutions who are interested to enter or expand their presence in the Philippines.

On July 23, DG de Lima attended a seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), which drew 140 participants, mostly from Singapore-based Japanese companies, and made the presentation “The Philippines–The Choice Investment Site in Asia.” According to PEZA figures, Japanese companies accounted for 32.08 percent of PEZA locators for the period 1995-2012.

DG de Lima also met with representatives of several Japanese companies and regional banks.

DG de Lima made another presentation the following day at the Seminar on Doing Business in the Philippines jointly organized by the Philippine Embassy, the Department of Trade and Industry through its Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Singapore, and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF). Around 151 participants attended the seminar.

Singapore is the Philippines’ fourth largest source of foreign investment, and most of these investments are located in PEZA sites. Presently, there are 118 Singaporean companies located in PEZA premises, accounting for 3.01 percent of all locators.

On July 25, DG de Lima, accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Calaguian-Cruz and officers of the Philippine Embassy, visited Keppel Offshore & Marine and Keppel FELS shipyard, where they were given a tour of the facilities. Keppel employs around 4,400 Filipinos in its various projects, including in its Subic and Batangas shipyards, as well as its engineering center in Cebu.

DG de Lima also had meetings with International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and selected Singaporean companies, as well as several media interviews, including on Channel News Asia’s Business Central. END